Tub assembly



y 20, 1952 T. TlBERl TUB ASSEMBLY Filed April 1, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 T. TlBERl TUB ASSEMBLY May 20, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 1, 1949 Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED SATES ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to drain tub assemblies, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved drain tub construction which is equally adaptable to use for a single tub or for a plurality of tubs.

One of the objects of the invention isthe provision of an improved drain tub assembly which is rigid and durable in construction, but which requires a minimum amount of metal in its manufacture and has a minimum weight so that the drain tubs may be constructed at a low cost, within the means of a vast number of purchasers, and so that they are adapted to withstand rough handling and give a lifetime of service.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved drain tub assembly, including a rigid stand provided with legs, in which the legs and stand are employed for clamping the tubs to the top of the stand thereby reducing the amount of labor required in the assembly of the parts, and reducing the machine operations since no other fastening means need be provided for securing the tubs to the stand.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved drain tub assembly in which provision is made for the quick and easy draining of the tub, but the parts are so proportioned that there is no danger of the drain hose becoming unhooked accidentally.

Another object is the provision of an improved drain tub assembly, including an auxiliary shelf which may be used for supporting clothes pins, soap powder, soap and various other tools, accessories or materials that may be used or required in laundry work; and in which the stand is utilized to increase the rigidity of the assembly bracing the legs against each other so that there is no danger of the legs buckling or bending when the tubs are moved about on their casters under load.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved metal stand for drain tubs. in which the legs are provided with suitable extensions adapted to be used for gripping the bottom of the tub, and in which the same fastening means that secure the legs to the frame are used for securing the tub to the frame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are two sheets accompanying the specification:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a drain tub assembly including a pair of tubs;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the supporting frame with the tubs and legs removed, except one leg, which is shown;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the transverse frame member which grips the bead on the tubs, a portion of one tub being shown;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the cross-sectional shape of the frame members of which the frame is constructed;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the tray or shelf, the dotted lines showing the pattern of the tray before it is shaped in its final form;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the legs taken from the outside looking diagonally at the corner of the assembly;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 1-1 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the mode of attachment of the tray or shelf to each leg;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 88 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the mode of securing the caster ferrule to the legs;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of an assembly employing a single tub; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hose supporting member and the hose plug.

Referring to Figure 1, the tub assemblies embodying the invention preferably include one or more standard galvanized iron tubs 20, 2 I, fixedly supported upon a stand indicated in its entirety by the numeral 22.

The tubs employed may be of any suitable construction provided they have an outwardly projecting bead or seam 23 around the lower edge of the tub. This bead or seam is customarily formed by turning the bottom, 24 of each tub downward at itsedge, as indicated at 25,

Figure 3, and thereafter folding the edge upward .1

again at 26 to form a groove 21 for receiving the side wall 28.

The outer upwardly extending fiange 29 is clamped against the lower edge of the side wall and soldered, and when completed forms an outwardly projecting rim or seam 23 around the lower edge of each tub.

The bottom of the tub may be suitably corrugated for re-enforcement and the side walls of the tubs may consist of four separate pieces 35, identical in shape and tapered toward the bottom and joined together at the rounded corners by means of standard clincher seams 3|.

The top of the tub is preferably formed with an outwardly rolled cylindrical bead 32, and the side walls may have a plurality of horizontal corrugations 33, the entire tub being galvanized overall by dipping after completion.

At its center the tub bottom 24 is provided with a depending tubular spout 34 to which the rubber hose 35 is secured by means of a suitable hose clamp. The length of the rubber hose 35 is preferably such that the hose has to be tensioned before it can be secured to the side of its tub, by means of the combined hose clamp and hook 36. This combined hose clamp and hook is shown in Figure 12 and comprises a strap of sheet metal, such as steel, which has a cylindrical body 31 and two radial flanges 38 clamped together by bolt 39 and nut 40.

The cylindrical body 31 has an integral upwardly extending hook 4|, the downwardly turned end 42 of which hooks over the top of the tub. The bolt 39'also supports a ring 43, which carries one end of a flexible ball chain 44, the other end of which is secured to ring 45 passing through a rubber plug 46.

The rubber plug may be wedged in the end of the hose 35, which is r'e-enforced by clamp 36, and the plug prevents the water from spurting out of the upper end of the hose, which might otherwise occur when the tub is being filled with water which runs down into the hose and acquires a certain momentum. The plug also prevents lcss of the water when the hose happens to be left in downwardly hanging condition. Making the hose 35 short enough to be tensioned insures the hook end 42 being held on the upper rim of the tub.

The stand 22 for the tubs preferably includes four identical legs 41, and an upper channeled frame 48, having a transverse frame member 49, Figure 2. The, tubs 26, 2| being provided with rounded corners, the frame 48 is also provided with rounded corners of similar size and shape to that of the bottom of the tubs.

The frame 48 is preferably made of four channeled members 50, 52, 53. Each of these channeled members preferably includes a vertical body flange 54, Figure 4, which has a plurality of longitudinally extending corrugations 55 to stiffen it. "Each body flange preferably has a transversely'extending horizontal flange 56 at its top and'another 51 at its bottom. These horizontal flanges give the frame a channeled shape and increase its rigidity, and the upper horizontal flange 56 serves to provide an increased bearing surface for supporting the'tubs which rest upon it.

Each of the channeled frame members 50-53 is provided at its ends with a curved body extension 58, which is adapted to engage a similar extension on'the next frame member to form the roundedcorner of the frame and to permit the body flanges of adjacent frame members to be welded together in overlapping relation.

The horizontal flanges 56, 51 may stop short of the attaching flanges 58 at the corners. When the stand is to hold a single tub, as shown in Figure 10, four short frame members 50 or 52 are secured together to -form a. frame of sufficient 4 size to fit the bottom of one tub. When two tubs are employed the frame 48 employs two elongated frame members 5|, 53, joined together by two short frame members 50, 52.

This provides an elongated frame 48 of sumcient width to fit the width of a single tub, but of suflicient length to support two tubs when their bottoms are spaced from each other as much as is necessary, considering the fact that the tubs become larger toward the top, as shown in Figure 1.

In order to support and grip the tubs at the central portion of the frame 48, the transverse frame member 49 is provided. This frame member preferably has a flat body 59 provided at each of its ends with a downwardly turned attaching flange 60. The flat body 59 may be suitably corrugated for re-enforcement, and it rests on the horizontal flanges 56 to which it is spot-welded at a plurality of points at each end.

The downwardly turned attaching flange 68 engages the outside of the body flange 54 of the two elongated frame members 5|, 53, to which this attaching flange 68 is spot-welded at a plurality of points.

The transverse frame member 49 has its lateral edges 6i, 62, provided with upwardly turned gripping flanges, and these flanges are shaped in plan, as shown in Figure 2, to fit the bottom of each tub at the outwardly projecting beads or seams 23, previously described. To do this each flange 61 or 62 has a major straight portion and a curved portion 63 at each end, as seen in plan in Figure 2.

The flanges H, 62 are concavely curved on their outer side, as indicated at the point 84, Figure 3; otherwise stated, each flange BI, 62 has an upper rim 65 which turns over into engagement with the side walls of the adjacent tubs, and the rim 65 is above and inwardly of the bead 23 on each tub.

Thus the flanges 6|, 62 on the central frame member 48 are shaped and located to grip the adjacent beads which project from the bottom of the two adjacent tubs to provide a securing means for the tubs at the center of the frame. In order to secure the tubs in place they are gripped at their opposite or'outer ends by means ofthe legs 41, further to be described.

Each leg 41 may consist of a stamped sheet metal member which is tapered,as shown in Figure 6. At its upper'end the leg is widest and has a curved flange 66, Figure 2, extending over an arc of degrees and curved complementarily to the rounded corners'of the frame '48. This'u'pper portion'66 has a pair of transverse corrugations 61 of suitable size to fit over 'the corrugations 55 in the frame 48.

The upper portion 66 also has 'a plurality of bolt holes 68, preferably at least four in'number, and located close to the lateral'edgesof the leg and spaced vertically to register with apertures adjacent the top and bottom of the frame "48. The frame 48 has'suitable registering apertures at each corner, and to allow some adjustment the lowermost apertures in'the rmmemay consist of elongated oval'ape'rtu'res.

At its extreme upper edge'the portion of the leg has an inwardly turned gripping flange 69, which'is adapted toflt over the bead,'rim'or'seam 23 which projects from the lower corner of the tub. The gripping 'flangef69 is'concavely'curved on its inner side 10, similar to thecurvature 64 of the flanges 6|, 62 *on the transverse frame member 48.

Thus each tub is gripped adjacent the middle of the frame by the frame member 49 and adjacent each of its outer corners by the flange 69 on a leg 41.

When the legs are attached to the frame the same bolts H, provided with nuts on the inside of the frame, pass through the legs and the frame and draw the legs tightly against the frame at the same time that the gripping flanges 69 on the legs grip the tubs. For this purpose the size of the tubs must, of course, be properly proportioned to the space between the gripping flanges 69 and BI, 62.

In the embodiment of Figure 10, the single tub 12 is gripped by four legs 41, carried by a square frame 59 having rounded corners corresponding in shape to the bottom of the tub. The legs i! are preferably substantially U-shape, each leg having a flat yoke 13 and a pair of side flanges it, 15.

The yoke tapers downwardly and appears triangular in plan, as shown in Figure 6, and near the bottom of the leg it assumes a substantially U-shape with a curved yoke, as indicated at T6, tapering downwardly. At its extreme lower end each leg has a cylindrical formation 11, Figure 6, Figure 9, provided with a pair of radially extending attaching flanges 78, 19, which are spotwelded together.

The cylindrical formation it grips a steel ferrule 89 of the type usually employed for supporting casters, and the casters 8! may be of a standard type having a headed shank which is received in the bore 82 of the ferrule 80.

At its lower end each ferrule 80 has a short radial flange 83 serving as a thrust bearing for engaging the top of the caster 8|. Thus the stand 22 is movably supported upon casters carried by the four legs.

In order to re-enforce the legs against bending and to provide space for supporting soap, clothes pins and other accessories, the legs 51 preferably support a tray or shelf 84. This tray or shelf consists of a substantially rectangular piece of sheet steel having a plane rectangular body 35, bordered by upwardly extending flanges 85 at each of its four sides.

The flanges 86 are cut away adjacent the corners where each corner is provided with a depending integral metal tab 81. In order to support the tray 84 on the legs, each leg is provided with a transverse bracket 88 which extends from flange M to flange 75, and has attaching flanges 89 fitting against flanges 14 and I5 and spot-Welded to such flanges. The bracket 83 has an upper flat body 90 which is provided with a slot 9! of sufficient size to receive the tab 81.

When the tray or shelf 84 is arranged with the tabs 81 in the slots 91 of the brackets 88 of each of the four legs, the tray is supported by the legs and, if desired, the tabs 81 may be bent inwardly below the body 90 of each bracket to clamp the bracket.

The shelf or tray 84 is preferably re-enforced at its edges and provided with the border flange 86, which projects upwardly to prevent articles from falling off the shelf. This border flange 36 may be formed by bending the tray body 85 upwardly along the line 92, Figure '7, and then bending it downwardly again along the line 93 so that the border flange 86 consists of a hairpin bend of two parallel flanges pressed against each other.

This provides the top of the border flanges 86 with a rounded surface, makes the shelf sub- 6 stantially rigid and gives it the characteristics of a tray so that articles cannot slide off.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved tub stand provided with a shelf which increases its utility and rigidity, and in which the tubs are gripped at their lower outer edges by gripping members provided on the stand.

When the legs are applied to the stand frame they are employed by gripping the edges of the tubs-and the present frame may be provided with standard tubs of many different constructions, provided they have an outwardly projecting seam or bead at the lower edge of the outer wall. The present tubs are self-draining by merely removing the plug and permitting the hose to hang downward.

The tub assembly may be constructed at a very low cost because the frames employ a minimum amount of metal and utilize the frame parts and legs for clamping the tubs. The frame and the legs may be galvanized by dipping, if desired, and being constructed of sheet metal the parts may be made by stamping operations during which the holes are punched.

The present tub assemblies are durable, rigid and economical, and are adapted to give a lifetime of service without necessity for repair or replacement. In the event the tubs wear out new tubs can be bought and clamped on the frame by means of the legs.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a twin tub assembly, the combination of a pair of laundry tubs, each of said tubs having a bottom and a continuous side wall joined together by a seam which projects outwardly beyond the lower part of the side wall, forming an outwardly projecting rib about the bottom of each tub, a channelled frame having a wide vertical web, and having side flanges projecting inwardly, the uppermost of said side flanges forming a seat for the tubs when placed side by side and supporting the tubs on three sides, a transverse clamping member carried by said frame above said uppermost flange, midway between the ends of the frame, said transverse clamping member having its edges adjacent said tubs formed with a concave clamping surface which it complementary to the adjacent part of the seams of both tubs, and four legs, the said legs having wide attaching flanges complementary to the four symmetrically located portons of the frame, to which they are attached by bolts, the said legs projecting above said uppermost flanges of said frame, and the projecting portion being concavely curved on the side toward said tubs complementarily to the adjacent portion of the tub seams providing a clamping portion at the top of each leg, the size of the frame and the spacing and shape of the transverse frame memher and leg clamping portions being such relative to the size of the bottoms of the tubs and the projecting seam portions thereof that the tubs rest on the upper horizontal flange of the frame and are clamped between the transverse frame member clamping portions and the clamping portions of said legs engaging the seams of both tubs when the legs are drawn tightly against the frame by their securing bolts, the said clamping portions of said transverse frame member and of each of said legs being curved over the top of the projecting adjacent seam portions of the tubs, holding the tubs down against the frame, and maintaining the tubs, frame, and legs as a unitary assembly, the said tubs being substantially rectangular in plan and tapered toward their bottoms, and having rounded corners, and the said frame being substantially rectangular in plan and provided with similar rounded corners, the said legs having an angle bracket secured in it and provided with an elongated slot in the horizontal portion of each angle bracket, and 2. rectangular tray having each of its corners provided with a depending tab, the said tabs extending through said elongated slots and holding the legs against movement relative to each other.

2. In a twin tub assembly, the combination of a pair of laundry tubs, each of said tubs having a bottom and a continuous .side wall joined together by a seam which projects outwardly beyond the lower part of the side wall, forming .an outwardly projecting rib about the bottom of each tub, a channelled frame having a wide vertical web, and having side flanges projecting inwardly, the uppermost of said side fiangesforming a seat for the tubs when placed side by side and supporting the tubs on three sides, a transverse clamping member carried by .said frame above said uppermost flange, midway between the ends of the frame, said transverse clamping member having its edges adjacent said tubs formed with a concave clamping surface which is complementary to the adjacent projecting part of the seams of both tubs, and four .legs, the said legs having wide attaching flanges complementary to the four symmetrically located portions of the frame, to which they are attached by bolts, the said legs projecting above said uppermost flanges of said frame, and the projecting portion bein conca-vely curved on the side toward said tubs complementarily to the adjacent portion of the tub seams providing a clamping portion at the top ;of each leg, the size .of the frame and the spacing and shape of the transverse frame member and leg clamping portions being such relative to the size of the bottoms of the tubs and the projecting seam portions thereof that the tubs rest on the upper horizontal flange of the frame and are clamped between the transverse frame member clamping portions and the clamping portions of said legs engaging the seams of both tubs when the legs are drawn tightly against the frame by their securing bolts, the said clamping portions of said transverse frame member and of each of said legs being curved over the top of the projecting adjacent seam portions of the tubs, holding the tubs down against the frame, and maintaining the tubs, frame, and legs as a unitary assembly, the said tubs being substantially rectangular in plan and tapered toward their bottoms, and having rounded corners, and the said frame being substantially rectangular in plan and provided with similar rounded corners, the said legs being further braced by having the legs taper toward the bottom into narrow channel shape, and each leg having an angle bracket secured in it and provided with an elongated diagonally extending slot in the horizontal portion .of each angle bracket, and a rectangular tray having an upstanding flange about its four sides, and having each of its corners provided with a depending tab, the said tabs extendin through said elongated slots and holding the legs against movement relative to :each other.

THOMAS TIBERI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date ,017,756 Head Feb. 20, 1912 1,187,804 Beardsley June 20, 1916 1,770,664 Woehler July 15, 1930 1,798,300 Arlt Mar. 31, 1931 1,805,068 Arlt May 12, 1931 2,053,830 Hunker Sept. 8, 1936 2,384,112 Meyer Sept. 4, 1945 

